Presidential Election in Bulgaria Heads to a Runoff

The presidential election held in Bulgaria on October 25, 2026, has moved to a second round after no candidate reached a sufficient majority. Election officials announced that voter turnout remained at a record low due to public distrust and general apathy toward politics.

The second round of the election will take place on November 1, 2026. The race will be between the incumbent left-leaning President Iliana Yotova and the pro-Western reformist opposition candidate Andrey Gyurov. Yotova, who took office in January 2026, is heading to the polls to secure her term, while former interim prime minister and economist Gyurov is challenging his opponent with a promise of change. Exit polls indicate that Yotova is leading by a margin of 3 to 4 percent.

The election process across the country took place in the shadow of economic difficulties and security concerns caused by drone attacks on maritime transport in the Black Sea. The Bulgarian presidency, which has a five-year term, holds significant political authority, including the command of the armed forces and the power to veto laws.